[audiopyle]

A couple of months back someone posted a photo of a gray water tank mounted under the right side in front of the rear wheels. It was black and had a proper drain tube, etc. I've done a search and can't find it now. Can anyone help me find the thread?

* Nevermind. I found it and it is actually mounted on the left side. If anyone HAS mounted a tank under the right side and has pics let me know!

 

[kenryan]

Would you post the link?

 

[timreg2]

Northwerst Conversions in Bellingham, WA has a Transit specific tank that can mount underneath on either side. Looks like a really nice fit, without loosing any ground clearance.

https://www.nwconversions.com/product/16-gallon-transit-van-undercarriage-water-tank/

I’m considering one or two of these, but would hope to hear from anyone having experience with them.

Not sure why they don’t have fittings on both ends since you would have to reverse the tank when mounting on the drivers side.

 

[gregoryx]

Super cool. That NW link shows the undercarriage limitations on the passenger side. Def not quite as much room - or quite as simple - as the driver's side. But cool that they've got a 16-gallon that goes right around the slider step (hence the strange L shape of the tank).

 

[orton]

Drawing for a 10.4 gallon 14 ga. 304 SS tank for the passenger side:

68b108_b40109de2cb54b05824339e27053220b.pdf (ortontransit.info)

Tank has bottom entry to eliminate the need for traps.

 

[rf17830]

I recently mounted a gray water tank on the passenger side. I looked at the new Northwest Conversions tank but concluded that it wouldn't fit on the passenger side of my van. I think that the factory sliding door running board brackets interfere with the tank. But it should fit on the driver side. I think that it might be possible to modify the factory running board brackets or fabricate new brackets so that it would fit. I already installed one of their wheel well water tanks. In the future I might look into what I need to do to install this, very nice tank, because I would like a larger gray water tank.

 

[Travelvanproject]

Plan to order a Transit with factory installed running boards on both side and also add the NW 16 gallon tank on driver side. Anybody has success on such approach?

 

[timreg2]

Plan to order a Transit with factory installed running boards on both side and also add the NW 16 gallon tank on driver side. Anybody has success on such approach?

I have the 16 gal tank. I haven't installed it yet but I did hold it in place under the van. It's hard to see how it would work with Ford's, or anyone else's, running board brackets. However it may be possible to modify the brackets (or make new ones) so they go under the tank.

Most of the brackets I've seen have an outer mount point around the pinch weld and then angle up into the cavity where the tank would go, mounting to an inner frame rail.

I hope I'm wrong and someone here has got this to work. I do plan on getting an aftermarket short step and see what I can come up with to go around the tank.

 

[Travelvanproject]

Thank you. Found many posts about under-mounted water tanks but few with running boards installed. The driver side running board should stop at the B pillar so likely there's enough space for gray water tank after the B pillar. Now feel confident that I could find a way to work out.

 

[timreg2]

Thank you. Found many posts about under-mounted water tanks but few with running boards installed. The driver side running board should stop at the B pillar so likely there's enough space for gray water tank after the B pillar. Now feel confident that I could find a way to work out.

Yes, I think you're right about the driver side. There should be enough room for the short running board, though I haven't seen exactly how it mounts.

Keep in mind that all 4 of the fittings will be on the front of the tank if you use it on the drivers side. They don't offer different tanks for each side.

Their website does say:

"* Does NOT Fit Transit with Factory Running Boards*"

Might be worth a call to them to make sure you wont have any problems on the driver side.

 

[Hambone85]

Anyone have thoughts on under mounted gray water tank for a freezing weather/ ski type van? Bad idea right? (Sorry for mild thread hijack)

 

[gregoryx]

Plan to order a Transit with factory installed running boards on both side and also add the NW 16 gallon tank on driver side. Anybody has success on such approach?

I'd wonder if the bolts in the photo I posted above are for holding the factory running boards. That would explain why it can't be mounted with the running boards - if those bolts have to be cut off to use the tank.

Anyone have thoughts on under mounted gray water tank for a freezing weather/ ski type van? Bad idea right? (Sorry for mild thread hijack)

Wouldn't worry me too much. As long as the tank isn't over-full and can flex with the freezing... and your drain goes into the TOP of the tank, you'd still be able to dump more gray on top of the frozen stuff.

FWIW, we run a heat-pad under our 20-gallon fresh tank on the driver's side and it rarely freezes in spite of overnight temps in the 15-20F range. I didn't check it when the temps were in the 0F range; I wouldn't have expected it to keep up with that. But I've been leaving it 70% full through a few storms this winter and it's still functional.

 

[gregoryx]

Photo of stock running board here. Not gonna work with a tank.

 

[rf17830]

I ended up installing this 5 gallon gray water tank because it's about the largest tank I could install between the running board brackets. This tank fits up into the space between the brackets. It fits flush and doesn't hang down.

Class A Customs | T-0500 | One (1) 5 Gallon RV Fresh and Gray Water Holding Tank RV Concession

Buy Class A Customs | T-0500 | One (1) 5 Gallon RV Fresh and Gray Water Holding Tank RV Concession at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!

www.amazon.com

 

[Erik]

Super cool. That NW link shows the undercarriage limitations on the passenger side. Def not quite as much room - or quite as simple - as the driver's side. But cool that they've got a 16-gallon that goes right around the slider step (hence the strange L shape of the tank).

View attachment 180148

Hi Greg,

I spoke with NW Conversions, they said that the side step will not work with enough space to also fit their tank.

NW C said you will have to just try it out to see of you can pull it off.
They really are not certain, which was odd when they are trying to sell these.

 

[gregoryx]

Hi Greg,

I spoke with NW Conversions, they said that the side step will not work with enough space to also fit their tank.

NW C said you will have to just try it out to see of you can pull it off.
They really are not certain, which was odd when they are trying to sell these.

Looking at the photo above... I'd say not gonna work with those in place.

 

[rf17830]

I installed a 5 gallon tank. In the future I might install a second tank and connect it to the first tank. You might think along this line if you really want a larger gray water capacity.

 

[rf17830]

I just came across this posting about relocating the sliding door running board further forward. I'm going to look into this. I really only need a step at the front of the sliding door. This could allow me to remove the rear bracket which would provide a lot more room to install a larger gray water tank.

Relocation of Running Board

Ordered the passenger side running board on our new van completely missing the fact that they are only accessible for the slider door. this made it quite difficult for Faye to climb into the front passenger door. Spent some time looking for a solution and then looked underneath, realized there...

www.fordtransitusaforum.com